March 23, 2010
répondez s'il vous plaît
Matthew 22:1-14
Amy Hulme
Central Truth
We have all been invited to the ultimate wedding feast, and all we have to do to go is to respond.
Key Verse | Matthew 22:3
"And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come." (Matthew 22:3)
Matthew 22:1-14
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants 1 22:3 Or bondservants; also verses 4, 6, 8, 10 to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Dive Deeper | Matthew 22:1-14
I once helped host a party for a friend to which over 50 people were invited. At the bottom of the invitation was written "RSVP," along with contact information for the guest to let the hostesses know whether she would be attending. Based on the responses we received, we made preparations for 40 people to attend. Chairs were set up, food was prepared, decorations were purchased, all in anticipation of entertaining a fairly large group. On the day of the party, imagine our surprise when the grand total of attendees, including hostesses and the guest of honor, was only 14. Because people either responded and decided later not to come or didn't respond at all, they missed out on a party that was planned with them in mind.
In this parable Jesus talks about a wedding feast that a king is throwing for his son. It is a metaphor for the invitation for salvation that God extended first to the Jews and, after their negative response, to the Gentiles. As for the guest in verses 11-13 who was cast out because he wasn't in proper wedding attire, it would have been unusual for someone from the streets to have appropriate clothing for a royal wedding feast, so the king himself would have provided something for him to wear. All that the guest had to do was accept and wear the king's clothing.
In the same way, we can't be good enough on our own to spend eternity in heaven with God. We have to accept His gift: Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. Allowing Christ's goodness to cover us is the only way we are acceptable in God's sight.
The invitation is still available to those who have not yet sent their RSVP. Even if you have rejected the invitation before, it isn't too late. God has prepared a celebration in heaven for anyone who wants to come. All we have to do is to respond, let Him know that we want to come, and cover ourselves with Christ.
Discussion Questions
1. How have you responded to God's invitation to spending eternity with Him in heaven?
2. What in your life will make you welcomed and accepted in heaven? Read Romans 3 for a reminder about who is good and why we are accepted in heaven.
3. Who are you telling about this invitation? Who are you trying to bring to the party? Pray for them now. If no one comes to mind, pray that God will bring people into your life whom you can tell about this invitation.
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever been invited to a great celebration? What did you do to prepare to go to the celebration?
2. Did you know that Jesus has invited you to a great celebration with Him in heaven? How do you prepare to be at the celebration in heaven? (You must accept Jesus’ gift of grace to be forgiven of all of your sins.)